Happy Halloween!

For some reason this morning Easton was particularly attached to his toothbrush (not necessarily a bad thing, I know).

He wants to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

And wanted to show you his darling turtle outfit.

I know. I'm a genius. A crawling child as a turtle. A TURTLE.

Go ahead take a few minutes for a nice belly laugh.

You can view a video of his crawling turtle in action here. [I think Google Video is having some issues. What else is new? Keep trying.]

An Appeal to Those Who Are Smarter Than Me (that's all of you!)

So, I don't speak a lick of Spanish.

I'm pretty sure that was an *almost* deal breaker for Ronnie when making the decision to marry me.

We (read Ronnie really, really wants this to happen and I think it would be an okay idea) would like Easton to learn Spanish.

So, with Christmas and his birthday coming up, I'm asking the internet (well, not actually the internet--I'm asking you).

Are there any good DVD/CDs out there to teach my kid a language?

And I should probably mention that I will also be learning this way. (I'm fully prepared for the day when Easton asks me things in Spanish and I look at him with a blank face).

Anything?

Mucho Thanks.

A Happy Day

For most of you that is.

I believe, at least I am almost, definitely, maybe sure that the hunting stories for this year have come to an end.

I recognize that not everyone enjoys these things, even members of my own family.

So on to other things.

Like how I'm doing this aerobics step class that is kicking my bum (notice how I didn't use the word butt there. I'm trying to limit my word usage in preparation of when Easton is repeating everything I say).

Or how I can't wait for Thanksgiving in Utah so I can finally meet this little doll.

Or how it is supposed to be 68 degrees today. 68! In Laramie. On October 29th. I think there is hope that this Halloween will be snow-free.

Man, some exciting things better happen to me soon, or no one will ever come back to this blog again.

Note to the powers that be: I said exciting. Not tragic. Not horrible. Not tear-inducing.

10 months, and three weeks

So I'm a bit behind on the monthly post.

Let's just forget it ever happened.

That's the kind of mom I strive to be--the one who just forgets about her mistakes instead of dwelling on them. {RIIIIIIGHT.}

So anyway.

Easton is getting so big and really learning a lot. He mastered his first word "ball" which comes out like "baa." He has mama down and is still working on consistency with dada. [We're working on getting the word skills on camera. He is not so much the on demand performer--as those of you who have had to listen to me repeat ball, ball, ball on the phone know]

He is now standing and practicing keeping his balance. This sometimes works out great for him, and other times creates some spectacular falls.

Now for the pictures.

This is pretty much the face you get when Easton is happy. Usually not this blurry, but when he is coming for the camera, there is only so much you can do.

Easton also had a new found love of books (video coming soon).

And yes, he is in his pajamas and not zipped up. Another new favorite game is "get away from mom as quickly as possible during my diaper change/clothes change." It's fun for everyone.

I couldn't resist this "gangsta" hat at the store on clearance. [and I am completely aware that I am the last person that should ever use the word "gangsta."]

How about this? You know this will be the background on your computer before you know it. The cuteness is currently overwhelming you, I know.

The Elk

So it's time for the story of the Elk Hunt. Grant, my father-in-law, and I went out for the evening hunt yesterday. To be honest I was starting to get a little discouraged as the month went on. The area where we have tags to hunt, you can shoot any elk for the month of October then the tag turns into cow only for the months of November and December. There were various times where I could have taken a cow easily, however during the month of October is the only time you can shoot a bull, so I was holding out.

Anyway as Grant and I were out yesterday we debated where to go and look for elk. After deciding where we ought to go, we were off. We were hiking up separate ridges to try and cover more area. Then Grant gets a hold of me to tell me there were about 50 head over the next ridge from him. So I hustled over, and we popped over to see them and decided to move a little closer, so coming up on the next out cropping of rocks we decided to take the shot.

At first we could only see one spike in the heard (a spike elk is a bull that is a year old, and his antlers are just one beam that stick straight up off his head). We looked through the herd some more and there was one that forked, so I decided that I was going to shoot him. I must say that Grant is very generous, he saw the heard and let me be the one to take a shot.

So I rested on the rocks, aimed, and fired! He was hit! I loaded another shell in the gun, but didn't need it. He staggered a few yards and went down. He was about 270 or so yards away, it was impressive, if I do say so myself!!!

Thanks again Grant, I had a wonderful time!

He got one!

This week is turning out to be a great one for Ronnie.

He got a 5 x 5 bull elk last night.

Pictures coming, but I know you were all way too anxious, so I thought I'd announce it first.

:)

A question answered

Typically, second-year law students do an internship during the summer between their second and third years of school.

The interviewing (and stress) process begins when school begins. (yes, nine months early!)

After many applications submitted and many interviews endured, Ronnie is done.

He got an offer!

He'll be interning with a firm in Cheyenne next summer and commuting the 45 miles daily.

Hip-Hip-Hooray!

Congrats hon!

Where am I?

A burning question in your hearts and minds, I know.

I'm buried underneath that transcribing project I mentioned earlier.

31 hours down, many, many more to go.

Someday soon (I hope) I'll be able to get back to my regularly scheduled posting.



Okay, so I'm not so regular, but I make you laugh sometimes, right? RIGHT?

A realization

When you put on lotion, do you just squirt it in your hand and then apply it directly to the desired body part? Or do you warm up the lotion by rubbing your hands together first?

It's one of those things that you do your whole life and never think about those OTHER people who do it a different way.

Until you marry one and he tries to put freezing* cold lotion on your small son's body.

Then you are forced to educate him.

*but then again, maybe the freezing part only happens in Wyoming.

She's Here!!!

Check out my new adorable niece on Erc's blog!

A Winner!

I plugged the numbers into Random.org and received the following:

Here are your random numbers:
8
Timestamp: 2008-10-13 15:51:49 UTC


Which means that the winner is Carolyn!


What do you win, you may wonder? Well, since I racked my brain all weekend for something uber-cool and was unsuccessful, you get my standby--a set of monogrammed cards!


I'd post the picture that I took of a few examples, but I prefer this one by Bethany. Because it rocks. And she rocks.

Congrats Carolyn!

Numbers Revisited

140: Handmade cards made in the last two weeks

14.25: Hours spent transcribing a videotaped summit for work (I’m almost halfway done)

7: Hours of footage that summit is long…kill me now

39: Degrees it is supposed to be tomorrow (it begins, dun, dun, DUN)

2: Hours a week that Easton and I do a Mommy/child swimming class—so fun

3: Days my sister is over her due date

10: Months old! Easton turns today!

4: Times Easton got up last night. I have GOT to figure something out.

0: Elk that Ronnie has killed. This is the weekend, I can feel it.

20,000: Hits to this blog! Tell me your favorite number from the last few days in the comments and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

1 entry per person. Contest ends Sunday, October 12th at 11:59p.m.

He Crawls!

Actually, he had been crawling for a long while now, I just stink at uploading videos.

So here he goes!

Click Here

Taggie, Tag, Tag

I've been tagged. Several times.

So here they are in all of their glory.

Joys:
1. Family, Church, etc. (you get the idea)
2. Ice cream--any ice cream
3. Dr. Pepper

Fears:
1. Snakes
2. Apparently, of Easton falling off our bed. I have woken up every night for WEEKS with my heart racing, because I dreamed this happened. Easton has not been in our bed at all. (Weird)
3. The dark

Obsessions:
1. My ATG 714 crafting adhesive gun (which will have a post dedicated to itself in the near future).
2. Lists
3. Monk and Psych

Random Facts:
1. My hands have to be busy. Watching TV? I'm crocheting. In the car (when I'm not driving)? Crocheting, or doing Sudoku, or something.
2. I mark mistakes in books-just like a teacher. They drive me insane!
3. I love cheesy movies. Disney Channel original productions, musicals, etc.

And now the second tag.

8 TV shows I like to watch:
Monk
Psych
America's Next Top Model
Amazing Race
Lost
The Office
Heroes
Jon and Kate Plus 8

8 Favorite Restaurants
P.F. Changs
Olive Garden
Taco Bell
Texas Roadhouse
Panda Express
Bajio
Sizzler
Burger King

8 Things that Happened Yesterday
Watched Conference
Had lunch with the fam
Read the third book in the Faith of our Fathers Series
Crocheted a baby blanket (for a gift)
Waited for a phone call from Erica telling me she was in labor (did not happen)
Watched Easton walk with his walker/pusher thingy
Listened to Easton scream like a girl (he does it when he is excited)
Had homemade ice cream

8 Things I'm looking forward to
Ronnie finishing school
Buying a house
Easton talking
Thanksgiving and Christmas
Meeting my soon-to-be-born niece
Never working (in an office) again
The election being over (I just can't take it much longer)
A full nights sleep

8 things on my wishlist (It should be noted that I physically pulled my wishlist from my planner for this list)
A Dyson Vacuum
Electric Fondue Pot
$ for clothes
Electronic shipping scale (so I never have to go to the post office again!)
Wives and Daughters DVD
North and South DVD
A new digital camera that is small enough to be in my purse all of the time
$ for stamping stuff

I'm not going to tag anyone--feel free to do this if you wish.

Thanks for sticking with me!

This one's all mine

I'm sure we remember the deer hunt two years ago. (because that is always on the forefront of your mind--right?)

I was unsuccessful.

And then last year I was pregnant and there was no way on earth that I was hauling around my large self with a gun on my back.

So that brings us to yesterday.

I went hunting.

I got up at 5:00 a.m. Strapped on my boots (that were NOT so broken in). Dropped off Easton with my mom and was off.

We got to the ranch around 6:45, just in time for it to be light enough to see and drove around for about half an hour. Then dad saw it.

A white bum.

Turns out it was three white bums, that belonged to three bucks.

I aimed. I missed (why is this a reoccurring theme?--I blame it on the new gun).

Then, I changed animals.


And hit it! Success!

And then it started to run. Uphill (never a good sign).

So since I had to reload, Ronnie finished him off. (Team spirit)

After all of those short sentences, you are probably ready for some pictures.

And I'd just like to remind everyone that this is significantly larger than Ronnie's from last year. (We don't split animals. He(or she in this case) who injures it, gets it).

The first kill

I know what you are thinking, but Ronnie and I and Easton ALL survived the weekend. Ronnie was an excellent patient.

What I am referring to, is the first kill of hunting season.

(You didn't think that we could get through another one of those without a few stories, did you?)

My dad and little brother went out on Monday. And Jord-man was successful.

Sorry for the graphic-ness of this, if you are not used to such things. The joy on Jord-man's face is worth it all though--don't you think?

P.S. As I type, Ronnie is attempting to bag an elk. We all know that he was unsuccessful last time. Hopefully this year goes better

P.P.S. The jury is still out on whether this antelope beats the one I got 11 years ago.

We train 'em young

We decided it was time for Easton to drive the Tbird.



I even got some of the cuteness on video. And since I HATE embedding the darn things, I'm just giving you the link. View the darling-ness here.

On the mend

Why is it that men always think they are younger than they actually are?


And why does that always cause disaster?


Ronnie decided to play flag football this year with some buddies. In the first game, he tweaked his knee.


That tweak turned out to be a torn meniscus.

No need to worry. The surgery was yesterday and all went well. In fact, Ronnie is being a pleasant patient (which I attribute to my threats of "No service if you are mean!" before the fact).

I expect my weekend to be full of ESPN, filling water bottles and doling out the medication.

Pray for me.

After 18 years...

of living in my lovely home state, it finally happened.


If I were one to leave shoes out by the door, that area would look like this.

And I couldn't be happier.


Seriously, have you ever seen a cuter pair of boots?




Man, I love living in Wyoming.

Kara Alvarez

A few weeks ago, I had to speak* in church. I suppose I should say that I had the privilege of speaking in church--but who are we kidding?


First, when I got to church and looked at the program (a printed agenda of the religious service for the day), I noticed that I was listed as Kara instead of KaLee. No big deal. I told the bishop (who was conducting the meeting) and he announced my name correctly.


I finished my talk (which went pretty well, if I do say so myself), and sat down to listen to the two other speakers. The third speaker was an older gentleman. About five minutes into his talk he said, "And as Sister** Alvarez mentioned, ...." I looked at the woman sitting beside me, and then at the bishop and yes, he meant me. I chuckled to myself and continued to listen.


And then he did it again.


And again***.


By this time, I was openly smiling, (as was most of the audience) and for the rest of church, I was addressed as Sister Alvarez (by friends, who were joking--of course).


It was a funny day, but I hadn't thought much of it again until I received this package in the mail.

Yes, my name was crossed out and Kara Alzarez was written in its place.

And yes, my UPS man is LDS.

*Members are asked to speak during the first hour of church.

**Members of my church also address each other as "Sister" and "Brother." It helps us feel like one big family. :)

***The elderly gentleman did realize his mistake later and has apologized to me no less than five times. He is adorably cute in that wrinkly, old man, kind of way.